Orthopedic Physician Assistant Salary

Orthopedic physician assistants are trained and skilled health care providers who work closely with orthopedic physicians and surgeons, helping them with the daily surgeries and procedures. These professionals usually deal with administering treatments and medications to patients, as well as monitoring their evolution, their signs and symptoms. The job outlook for these assistant has been excellent over the past few years, and the salary structure is very rewarding as well. That being said, the mean yearly salary for these health care providers can vary anywhere between $77,000 and $106,000, depending on their work environment.

Pay Scale In Different Areas Of The United States of America

These health care professionals are paid differently across the United States, as the State of Texas pays them with $130,000 while North Carolina offers them around $120,000. At the same time, Florida pays its orthopedic physician assistants a mean yearly wage of around $118,000, while Arizona gives them approximately $115,000 and Indiana pays them $97,000 a year. These are some of the highest paying states for orthopedic physician assistants, at the moment.

Orthopedic Physician Assistant Job Description

The orthopedic physician assistant plays a crucial role for every orthopedic surgeon and physician, as these specialists can perform medical examinations and maintain an accurate and up to date medical history record for each patient. It is also the duty of the orthopedic physician assistant to carefully update the patient about all the laboratory and operating procedure, to carry a preliminary patient care plan as well as to collect details about the laboratory procedures. In some cases, the orthopedic physician also checks the x-rays, the bone scans, the electrocardiograms and the EMGs of the patients prior to complex surgeries.

If needed, the orthopedic physician assistant may also administer drugs and anesthesia, manage would healing, create incisions to drain the abscess, pin the fractures and such. These professionals also help surgeons close the surgeries and they use a variety of tools and high end medical equipment. It is the responsibility of the orthopedic physician assistant to also keep track of the patient’s health and to monitor his recovery over the days. In some cases, the assistants may also need to dictate the discharge summaries, they treat infected tendons and bones and they also manage fractures.

How To Become An Orthopedic Physician Assistant?

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In 2017, workers with a bachelor's degree or higher had almost twice as muchmedian earnings per week than workers with only a high school diploma*.

*Bureau of Labor Statistics

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In addition to the medical degree which is essential for your future career as an orthopedic physician assistant, you will also need to be able to work for long hours and to stand on your feet for prolonged periods of time. Also, it is important to be caring, compassionate and patient, and you must also possess an innate desire to help people. It is very important for the orthopedic physician assistant to maintain a good relationship not just with the patient, but also with the orthopedic surgeon, the physician and virtually any other member of the medical team.

That being said, the first step you need to take toward becoming qualified as an orthopedic physician assistant is earning your Bachelor’s Degree, either in paramedics or in nursing. You will also need to have at least five years of practical, hands-on experience under the close supervision of an already certified orthopedic surgeon or physician. Some work experience is also essential for becoming an assistant.

In addition to the degrees and the working experience, it is of utmost importance for every orthopedic physician assistant to complete a one-year residency period, where they will have the opportunity to show all the skills they have received throughout the academic training period. This is a continuous learning process that takes years of hard work and study.

Certification

if you want to take your education a mile further then you can always apply for the CEOPA certification and become certified. CEOPA stands for Certification Examination for Orthopedic Physician Assistants, and after you pass the exam you will be granted a certification from the NBCOPA. As it happens with most certifications in the health care industry, you will have to sit for a re-certification exam once every four years.

Orthopedic Physician Assistant Salary In Canada, Australia And The United Kingdom

In Canada, an orthopedic physician salary can make around Ca$96,000 a year, while one from the United Kingdom should expect to be paid a mean yearly salary ranging between 16,000 and 36,000 a year.

Verdict On Orthopedic Physician Assistant Salary

To conclude, these assistants can get a great, rewarding salary while doing what motivates them the most, and that is helping people!